[Peace-discuss] the official U.S. Army briefing on Iraq myths and facts

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

Saddam Hussein: In His Own Words

"We need to remind ourselves, once more, who we are, what we stand for, and 
what we are fighting for." 
--Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz 
For years, Saddam Hussein and his regime have used state-controlled media in 
Iraq to spread lies, and threaten his neighbors and the world. Below is a 
sampling of quotes from Saddam and the Iraqi media - keyed to significant 
events - showing a pattern of threats stretching back more than a decade. 
(Compiled by OSD Public Affairs)
The Gulf War, February 1991
· "We will chase [Americans] to every corner at all times. No high tower of 
steel will protect them against the fire of truth." 
Saddam Hussein, Baghdad Radio, February 8, 1991 
· "[America] will not be excluded from the operations and explosions of the 
Arab and Muslim mujahidin and all the honest strugglers in the world." 
Iraq News Agency, January 30, 1991 (State-controlled) 
· "What remains for Bush and his accomplices in crime is to understand that 
they are personally responsible for their crime. The Iraqi people will pursue 
them for this crime, even if they leave office and disappear into oblivion. 
There is no doubt they will understand what we mean if they know what revenge 
means to the Arabs."
Baghdad Radio, February 6, 1991 (State-controlled) 
· "Every Iraqi child, woman, and old man knows how to take revenge...They 
will avenge the pure blood that has been shed no matter how long it takes.
Baghdad Domestic Service, February 15, 1991 (State-controlled) 
Iraq Masses Troops Against Kuwait, October 1994
· "Does [America] realize the meaning of every Iraqi becoming a missile that 
can cross to countries and cities?" 
Saddam Hussein, September 29, 1994 
· "[W]hen peoples reach the verge of collective death, they will be able to 
spread death to all..." 
Al-Jumhuriyah, October 4, 1994 (State-controlled newspaper)
· "[O]ur striking arm will reach [America, Britain and Saudi Arabia] before 
they know what hit them."
Al-Qadisiyah, October 6, 1994 (State-controlled newspaper) 
· "One chemical weapon fired in a moment of despair could cause the deaths of 
hundreds of thousands." 
Al-Quds al-Arabi, October 12, 1994 (State-controlled newspaper)
Release of UNSCOM Report, April 10, 1995
· "Although Iraq's options are limited, they exist...Iraq's present state is 
that of a wounded tiger. Its blow could be painful, even if it is the last 
blow..."
Al-Quds Al-'Arabi, June 9, 1995 (State-controlled newspaper) 
Khobar Towers Bombing, June 25, 1996
· "[The U.S.] should send more coffins to Saudi Arabia, because no one can 
guess what the future has in store." 
Saddam Hussein, Iraqi Radio, June 27, 1996 
Operation Desert Fox, December 1998
· "If [other Arab nations] persist on pursuing their wrongful path, then we 
should - or rather we must - place the swords of jihad on their necks..."
Saddam Hussein, January 5, 1999 
· "Oh sons of Arabs and the Arab Gulf, rebel against the foreigner...Take 
revenge for your dignity, holy places, security, interests and exalted 
values."
Saddam Hussein, January 5, 1999 
· "[Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti] blood will light torches, grow aromatic 
plants, and water the tree of freedom, resistance and victory."
Saddam Hussein, Iraqi Radio, January 26, 1999
· "Whoever continues to be involved in a despicable aggressive war against 
the people of Iraq as a subservient party must realize that this aggressive 
act has a dear price."
Saddam Hussein, February 16, 1999
· "What is required now is to deal strong blows to U.S. and British 
interests. These blows should be strong enough to make them feel that their 
interests are indeed threatened not only by words but also in deeds."
Al-Qadisiyah, February 27, 1999 (State-controlled newspaper)
U.S.S. Cole Bombing, October 12, 2000
· "[Iraqis] should intensify struggle and jihad in all fields and by all 
means..."
Iraq TV, October 22, 2000 (State-controlled)
The Attacks of September 11
· "The United States reaps the thorns its rulers have planted in the world."
Saddam Hussein, September 12, 2001
· "The real perpetrators [of September 11] are within the collapsed 
buildings."
Alif-Ba, September 11, 2002 (State-controlled newspaper)
· "[September 11 was] God's punishment." 
Al-Iktisadi, September 11, 2002 (State-controlled newspaper)
· "If the attacks of September 11 cost the lives of 3,000 civilians, how much 
will the size of losses in 50 states within 100 cities if it were attacked in 
the same way in which New York and Washington were? What would happen if 
hundreds of planes attacked American cities?"
Al-Rafidayn, September 11, 2002 (State-controlled newspaper)
· "The simple truth [about September 11] is that America burned itself and 
now tries to burn the world." 
Alif-Ba, September 11, 2002 (State-controlled magazine)
· "[I]t is possible to turn to biological attack, where a small can, not 
bigger than the size of a hand, can be used to release viruses that affect 
everything..."
Babil, September 20, 2001 (State-controlled newspaper)
· "The United States must get a taste of its own poison..."
Babil, October 8, 2001 
More information on Iraq
· CIA Factbook 
· State Department 

Myths and Facts About Iraq 
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
Department of State 
Myth: Everything that's wrong with Iraq's economy is because of sanctions. 

Fact: Iraq enjoyed a strong economy until Saddam Hussein took power and 
launched attacks against his neighbors--Iran in 1980 and Kuwait in 1990--with 
devastating results for Iraq. It took 5 years for Saddam to accept the 
oil-for-food program. Saddam also has failed to implement policies that would 
boost economic growth and generate job opportunities to improve the 
population's living standards.
Myth: The Iraqi people do not have an adequate supply of medicine because of 
sanctions.
Quick Facts
Population: 24,001,816
Fact: Sanctions have never prohibited or limited the import of medicine. In 
fact, the UN has urged the Iraqi regime to order more basic medicines, but 
Baghdad has refused. Saddam has been criticized by the UN for intentionally 
hoarding medicines in warehouses in government-controlled Iraq instead of 
distributing it to civilians.
Myth: Sanctions prohibit humanitarian contributions to Iraq.
Fact: Sanctions do not prohibit humanitarian contributions, Saddam does. 
Since June 1998, Saddam has publicly refused a number of humanitarian 
contributions while claiming that his people are suffering.
Myth: Sanctions prohibit the import of pencils, books and journals, and desks 
for schools.
Fact: Basic educational supplies including pencils, books, and desks have 
never been prohibited by UN sanctions. They have been sent to Iraq regularly 
since 1991 and nearly $64 million of supplies for the education sector, 
including photocopiers, and printing and lab equipment, have entered Iraq 
under the oil-for-food program.
Myth: Sanctions prohibit Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from working 
in Iraq and the UN can run whatever programs it wants in country.
Fact: Saddam has refused to allow most NGOs into Iraq and sometimes impedes 
UN workers trying to oversee oil-for-food programs. In fact, Saddam launched 
a series of terrorist attacks against NGO and UN workers in northern Iraq in 
the early 1990s.
Myth: Sanctions prevent Iraqis from going on the Hajj.
Fact: Sanctions have never prevented Iraqis from making the Hajj. The 
Security Council exempted Hajj flights from flight restrictions and has 
offered the use of oil-for-food revenue to fund private Iraqi Hajj travel, 
but Baghdad rejected the plan.
Myth: Sanctions prevent travel to the Muslim holy sites in southern Iraq.
Fact: Sanctions have never prohibited travel in or out of Iraq. The UN 
Sanctions Committee approved a ferry service allowing pilgrims in the region 
to travel to An Najaf and Karbala.
Myth: Sanctions have crippled Iraq's ability to export oil.
Fact: Iraq's oil exports are approaching pre-war levels. Prior to the Gulf 
War, Iraq was exporting about 2.6 million barrels per day of crude oil. Its 
current crude oil exports have averaged about 2.2 million barrels per day in 
recent months, and the regime said it plans to increase exports
Myth: Sanctions on Iraq will never be lifted.
Fact: Sanctions remain in place because Iraq refuses to comply with Security 
Council resolutions. The requirements for lifting sanctions have not changed 
since they were first imposed in 1991. UN Resolution 1284, which Iraq 
rejects, lays a path for the eventual suspension and lifting of sanctions.
Myth: The international community has not taken measures to care for the 
Iraqi people.
Fact: The UN designed the oil-for-food program in 1991 -- unprecedented in 
size and scope--to provide food and medicine for the Iraqi people. Saddam 
rejected it outright for four years and then slow-rolled it for another year 
and a half. The substantial expansion over the years has increased provisions 
for Iraqis. The international community continues to look for ways to improve 
the program, despite Saddam's effort to undermine humanitarian efforts.
Myth: The oil-for-food program has failed to meet basic needs of the Iraqi 
people and it never will.
Fact: Oil-for-food has made significant improvements in the lives of the 
Iraqis and will continue to do so. The increase in revenue under the 
oil-for-food program from $4 billion in the first year of the program to a 
projected $20.4 billion this year means there is a tremendous amount of money 
available for humanitarian goods. The government of Iraq must choose to make 
that happen. In northern Iraq, where the UN controls the humanitarian relief 
programs, child mortality rates are lower than they were before the Gulf War. 
However, in southern and central Iraq, where the Iraqi Government controls 
the oil-for-food program, mortality rates have doubled.
Myth: There is a limit on the amount of food Iraq can import.
Fact: There has never been a limit on the amount of food Iraq can import.
Myth: Contract holds have kept a majority of goods from entering Iraq.
Fact: Since the oil-for-food program was implemented in March 1997, the UN 
Sanctions Committee has approved about 90% of Iraqi contracts received.
Myth: The Iraqi Government is doing all it can to make the oil-for-food 
program work.
Fact: The regime is slow to order and distribute goods and Saddam's lack of 
cooperation on monitoring makes it difficult to ensure goods are equitably 
distributed to the Iraqi people. Baghdad has rejected UN recommendations to 
increase protein-enriched goods for malnourished children and pregnant women. 
The Iraqi Government has also rejected assistance by all but a few 
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other outside groups.
Myth: The UN provides substandard goods under the oil-for-food program.
Fact: Under oil-for-food, Saddam, not the UN, chooses what is purchased and 
from whom. Saddam's choice of suppliers is politically motivated. Over 
one-third of all contracts have gone to Iraq's three most vocal supporters on 
the Security Council. Iraq also continues to oppose placing mobile testing 
laboratories for humanitarian goods under oil-for-food at UN entry points 
that would insure the quality of goods delivered.
Myth: Iraq does not have the resources to support the Iraqi people.
Fact: Baghdad has significant resources available to alleviate much of Iraq's 
humanitarian suffering, but Saddam does not spend the money on the Iraqi 
people. The oil-for-food program allows Iraq to sell as much oil as required 
to meet humanitarian needs. From December 1999 to June 2000, Iraq earned 
approximately $8.3 billion from oil sales.
Myth: There is little food available in Iraq.
Fact: More than 13 million metric tons of foodstuffs have arrived in Iraq 
since the first deliveries of the oil-for-food program began in 1997. In 
fact, Baghdad has been caught exporting dates, corn, and grain outside of 
Iraq while claiming the Iraqi people are starving.
Myth: UNSCOM inspectors behaved badly and deserved to be thrown out of Iraq.
Fact: The inspectors were not thrown out of Iraq. Iraq's obstructionism and 
refusal to cooperate with the weapons inspectors, who were carrying out a UN 
Security Council mandate, prevented the inspectors from fulfilling their 
mission and they had no choice but to leave.
Myth: Saddam is not more brutal than other dictators.
Fact: Saddam's gassing of the Kurds in northern Iraq in 1988 was one of the 
largest chemical weapon attacks ever waged against a civilian population. 
Even today, Saddam continues to practice systematic torture, executions, 
forced displacement, and repression against the Iraqi people. The U.S. is 
currently seeking an indictment of senior regime officials for these 
atrocities.
Myth: Only ethnic minorities (not Sunnis) in Iraq are subject to harsh 
treatment by the regime.
Fact: Any group opposed to Saddam Hussein's regime is subject to brutal 
repression. The regime has moved against its people -- be they Arab, Kurd, or 
Turkoman, Sunni, Shia, or Christian --through expulsion from their homes, 
razing of villages, arbitrary arrest, execution, and torture.
Myth: Saddam's palaces are used by the Iraqi people.
Fact: The nearly 80 palaces and VIP residences in Iraq are purely for the 
enjoyment of Saddam, his family, and key supporters as a reward for their 
loyalty. Saddam's inner circle is immune from harsh living conditions facing 
the general population
Also see our first part in this series, "Saddam Hussein: In His Own Words."